Gearbox Software finally pulled back the curtain on the next mainline entry in their looter-shooter dynasty during Gamescom, and honestly, the internet is already losing its mind over the tonal shift. One specific topic keeps bubbling up in Discord servers and Reddit threads: the Borderlands 4 potty mouth factor. If you’ve played a Borderlands game since 2009, you know the drill. It’s loud. It's crude. It’s usually covered in psycho-mask sweat and flavored with a heavy dose of "piss on your grave" energy. But the teaser for the fourth game feels... different. It’s darker. It’s more clinical. And that’s led a lot of veterans to wonder if the signature "potty mouth" humor that defined the Handsome Jack era is being retired for something more mature.
The Evolution of the Borderlands 4 Potty Mouth
Let's be real for a second. Borderlands 2 was the peak of a very specific kind of writing. Anthony Burch, the lead writer for that entry, leaned hard into the internet humor of 2012. We’re talking about "butt stallion," "bonerfarts," and a constant stream of yelling. It worked back then because it was fresh. By the time Borderlands 3 rolled around, that same energy felt a bit like your uncle trying to use TikTok slang at Thanksgiving. It was cringe. Fans were vocal about it, too. They loved the gunplay but found the Calypso Twins’ dialogue to be grating.
So, where does that leave the Borderlands 4 potty mouth?
Early indicators from Gearbox Suggest a "reset." Creative Director Randy Varnell has mentioned in various interviews over the years that the team is always looking to evolve the "flavor" of the world. The teaser trailer showed a planet being shattered, a mechanical hand picking up a psycho mask, and a serious, looming threat. There wasn't a single "poop" joke in sight. This suggests that while the game will almost certainly retain its M-rating, the way characters use profanity might shift from "random and loud" to "gritty and character-driven."
You've got to consider the competition. With games like Cyberpunk 2077 and The Witcher setting a high bar for "mature" writing, a game that relies solely on 6th-grade insults feels dated. Gearbox knows this. They’ve seen the feedback. The community wants the edge, but they want it to feel earned.
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Why Fans Are Actually Worried
It sounds silly to worry about whether a game will have enough swearing or toilet humor, but for this franchise, it’s part of the DNA. The "potty mouth" isn't just about the words; it's about the irreverence. It’s the idea that in a galaxy this bleak, the only thing left to do is laugh at the absurdity of death.
Some fans fear that by "toning down" the Borderlands 4 potty mouth, the game might lose its soul and become another generic sci-fi shooter. Look at the Saints Row reboot. They tried to modernize the humor, stripped away the crude edges, and it landed with a thud. Gearbox is walking a razor-thin line here. They need to keep the humor that makes Borderlands, well, Borderlands, without making it feel like a time capsule from 2011.
What "Mature" Humor Really Means in 2026
If the Borderlands 4 potty mouth is evolving, what does that look like? Think less about Claptrap making a joke about his "chassis" and more about the dark, cynical wit seen in Tales from the Borderlands. That game is widely considered to have the best writing in the series. It was still vulgar. It was still violent. But the "potty mouth" moments were used for comedic timing and character development rather than just filling silence.
- Environmental Storytelling: Instead of a character yelling a curse word, the world itself reflects the chaos.
- Contextual Profanity: Using "the potty mouth" when a vault hunter is actually under pressure, making it feel more human.
- Black Comedy: Leaning into the horror of the setting.
Honestly, the best thing Gearbox could do is lean into the "Rated R" aspect of the world. Not the "PG-13 movie where they get one F-bomb" version, but the "this world is broken and we're all going to die" version. That’s where the series shines. When the humor comes from a place of desperation, it sticks.
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The Impact of the Borderlands Movie
We can't talk about the Borderlands 4 potty mouth without acknowledging the elephant in the room: the 2024 movie. It was... not great. Most fans and critics agreed that the sanitized, PG-13 version of the Borderlands universe felt hollow. It lacked the bite. It lacked the filth.
Gearbox founder Randy Pitchford is nothing if not aware of the public perception of his brand. The failure of the movie to capture the "potty mouth" essence of the games might actually push the developers to double down on the grit for the fourth game. If the movie showed them what doesn't work (sanitized humor), the game is their chance to prove that the "potty mouth" identity is still relevant.
A Shift in Voice Acting and Direction
There’s also the matter of the voice cast. We don’t have a full list yet, but the rumors suggest a mix of old favorites and brand-new vault hunters. The way these characters are written will dictate the Borderlands 4 potty mouth level. If we get a "soldier" archetype who curses like a sailor because that's their background, it feels natural. If we get another "quirky" teenager who swears because they think it's cool, we might be in for another polarizing experience.
Navigating the New Pandora (or wherever we're going)
The teaser clearly shows a new setting. A new planet means a new culture, and a new culture means new ways to be offensive. The Borderlands 4 potty mouth doesn't have to be English-based slang, either. We’ve seen the series play with different dialects and "vault-hunter speak" before. Expanding the "potty mouth" vocabulary to include in-universe slurs and jargon can make the world feel much larger.
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- Character Dynamics: The banter between hunters needs to be sharper.
- The Villain: After the Calypsos, the villain in Borderlands 4 needs a voice that commands respect (and maybe a bit of fear).
- Side Quests: This is where the "potty mouth" usually goes off the rails. Gearbox needs to ensure the "Face McShooty" style of humor is a seasoning, not the main course.
The Verdict on the Vibe Shift
Is the Borderlands 4 potty mouth dead? Highly unlikely. Is it changing? Almost certainly. The gaming landscape has shifted. Players who were 15 when the first game came out are now in their 30s. We’ve grown up, and we want our favorite franchises to grow up with us—without losing the "f-you" attitude that made us fall in love with them in the first place.
Everything we've seen so far points to a more "industrial" and "cosmic horror" aesthetic. This suggests a more "Potty Mouth" that is cynical and dry rather than "wacky." And frankly, that’s exactly what the series needs to stay relevant in 2026.
Actionable Insights for Borderlands Fans
If you're worried about the direction of the humor, the best thing you can do is keep an eye on the upcoming "Developer Insight" streams Gearbox has planned. They usually drop hints about the writing style during these deep dives.
- Watch the ESRB rating: When it finally drops, look for the "Strong Language" and "Crude Humor" descriptors. The specific notes there will tell you exactly how "potty" the mouth gets.
- Revisit Tales from the Borderlands: If you want to see what "good" Borderlands writing looks like, play the original Telltale series. It’s the benchmark for balancing the franchise's vulgarity with actual heart.
- Monitor the Lead Writer: Look for who is credited with the script. If they've brought in fresh blood with a background in dark comedy or hard sci-fi, expect the Borderlands 4 potty mouth to be a lot more sophisticated.
- Adjust Expectations: Don't expect a carbon copy of Borderlands 2. That game was a product of its time. Borderlands 4 is being built for a new generation of hardware and a more discerning audience.
The reality is that "potty mouth" humor only works when it feels authentic to the world. If the world is falling apart and the gods are literal monsters, a few well-placed curse words are the least of our problems. Gearbox has the chance to redefine what "mature" means for the looter-shooter genre, and it all starts with how they handle the script.